But
Jesus said, “Leave her alone. Why do you trouble her? She has done a good work for me. For you always have the poor with you, and whenever you want to, you can do them good; but you will not always have me. She has done what she could. She has anointed my body beforehand for the burying. Most certainly I tell you, wherever this Good News may be preached throughout the whole world, that which this woman has done will also be spoken of for a memorial of her.”
Mark 14:6-9
Mark 14 [3.] While he was at Bethany, in the house of Simon the leper, as he sat at the table, a woman came having an alabaster jar of ointment of pure nard—very costly. She broke the jar, and poured it over his head. But there were some who were indignant among themselves, saying, “Why has this ointment been wasted? For this might have been sold for more than three hundred denarii, and given to the poor.” They grumbled against her.
Mark 14 [6.] But Jesus said, “Leave her alone. Why do you trouble her? She has done a good work for me. For you always have the poor with you, and whenever you want to, you can do them good; but you will not always have me. She has done what she could. She has anointed my body beforehand for the burying. Most certainly I tell you, wherever this Good News may be preached throughout the whole world, that which this woman has done will also be spoken of for a memorial of her.”
Mark 14 [10.] Judas Iscariot, who was one of the twelve, went away to the chief priests, that he might deliver him to them. They, when they heard it, were glad, and promised to give him money. He sought how he might conveniently deliver him. On the first day of unleavened bread, when they sacrificed the Passover, his disciples asked him, “Where do you want us to go and prepare that you may eat the Passover?”
Meaning:
A woman had just poured a jar of very costly ointment over Jesus’ head, and some of those at the table scolded her for wasting money that could have been given to the poor (Mark 14:3-5). Jesus now speaks in her defence. In a few sentences he praises her act, puts the needs of the poor in their right place, reveals the true meaning of what she did, and makes a remarkable promise about the future.
- “Leave her alone. Why do you trouble her? She has done a good work for me”
Jesus stops the criticism at once. The word translated “good” also carries the sense of something beautiful or fitting. Jewish teachers spoke of giving money to the poor as a duty, but counted acts of personal kindness, such as caring for the dead, as an even higher kind of good deed. The woman had done such a deed for Jesus himself. What others called waste, Jesus called beautiful.
- “For you always have the poor with you”
These words are often misused, as if Jesus did not care about poverty. In fact he is echoing the Law: “For the poor will never cease out of the land. Therefore I command you to surely open your hand to your brother, to your needy, and to your poor” (Deuteronomy 15:11). The same verse that says the poor will always be present commands generosity towards them. Jesus adds, “whenever you want to, you can do them good”. The opportunity to help the poor would remain every day of their lives.
The opportunity to honour Jesus in person, however, was about to end: “you will not always have me.” Elsewhere Jesus taught that what is done for the needy is done for him: “because you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me” (Matthew 25:40). Love for Christ and love for the poor are not rivals.
- “She has anointed my body beforehand for the burying”
“She has done what she could.” She had no power to stop the plot against Jesus, but she did what lay within her reach, and she did it with all her heart. Jesus then gives her act a deeper meaning. He had told the disciples plainly that he would be killed (Mark 10:33-34); now he speaks of his body being prepared for burial.
A crucified man was often denied a proper burial. After Jesus died, the women “bought spices, that they might come and anoint him” (Mark 16:1-2), but when they came to the tomb he had already risen. This woman’s anointing was the only one his body received.
- “Wherever this Good News may be preached throughout the whole world”
At a time when Jesus was about to be rejected and killed, he spoke with certainty that the Good News would be preached throughout the world. After his resurrection he sent his followers to do exactly that: “Go into all the world, and preach the Good News to the whole creation” (Mark 16:15).
He also promised that her act would be “spoken of for a memorial of her.” Every time this passage is read, in every language and land, that promise is kept. Her name is not given here, but her love is remembered, just as Jesus’ own death is remembered in the bread and the cup: “Do this, as often as you drink, in memory of me” (1 Corinthians 11:25).
The Significance of Mark 14:6-9
- Jesus defends those who love him
Jesus did not leave the woman to face criticism alone. Those who honour him may be misunderstood by others, but he sees and values what they do.
- Do what you can
No one can do everything, but everyone can do something. Jesus did not ask the woman for more than she had; he praised her for doing what she could.
- God remembers
Scripture assures believers that “God is not unrighteous, so as to forget your work and the labor of love which you showed toward his name” (Hebrews 6:10). No act of love for Christ is wasted or forgotten.
Cross-References:
Deuteronomy 15:11: "For the poor will never cease out of the land. Therefore I command you to surely open your hand to your brother, to your needy, and to your poor, in your land." The Law Jesus echoed.
Matthew 25:40: "because you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me." Serving the needy is serving Christ.
Mark 16:15: "Go into all the world, and preach the Good News to the whole creation." The worldwide preaching Jesus foresaw.
Hebrews 6:10: "For God is not unrighteous, so as to forget your work and the labor of love which you showed toward his name," God remembers love shown to him.
Conclusion: Jesus defended the woman who anointed him. He called her act a good and beautiful work, reminded the critics that they could help the poor at any time, and explained that she had anointed his body beforehand for burial. He promised that wherever the Good News was preached in the whole world, her love would be told in memory of her. Wholehearted devotion to Jesus is never waste.
PIB Scriptures are derived from the World English Bible